Jason Reeves Interview
Monday, December 1, 2008, at 7:11 p.m. CST
Jason Reeves is a talented musician from Iowa City, Iowa. Jason has co-written songs with Colbie Caillat on her platinum debut album Coco. Jason and I discussed being a self-taught guitarist, musical inspirations, Colbie Caillat, music videos and the future for Jason Reeves who has signed on with a major label in Warner Bros. Records.
AARON KEKER: I would really love to play an acoustic guitar, however I just do not have the patience to take lessons and play “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” I read on your web site that you self-taught yourself. How long did it take to learn to play guitar?
JASON REEVES: … It’s a tricky answer to that because I’ve been playing for about seven years and I’m not sure exactly how long it took before I could, you know, really play. It took a long time though I’d say at least a year before you could, you know, really start to know what you’re doing, I guess. And I guess it just takes a lot of playing so I’m sure it isn’t for everybody. But for me it took a year or two to really get into it.
AARON KEKER: Right. You didn’t start playing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” though did you?
JASON REEVES: No, I started to play Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.
AARON KEKER: [Laughs] So going for the hard stuff first, huh. So…
JASON REEVES: Yeah. Definitely unsuccessfully but I tried. [Laughs]
AARON KEKER: Did you get a lot of blisters too on your finger from playing?
JASON REEVES: My fingers got messed up. There’s a weird period of learning how to play guitar where your fingers are constantly messed up a handful. [Laughs]
AARON KEKER: [Laughs] Right. All Right. You performed back at The Beat Kitchen on October 22, 2008. Was that the first time that you performed in Chicago?
JASON REEVES: No that was my third show. We played House of Blues and Schubas also.
AARON KEKER: So you mostly perform solo acoustically, correct?
JASON REEVES: Actually, I have a band. A three-piece right now. A bass and a keyboard player and a drummer
AARON KEKER: You always play with a band?
JASON REEVES: They have been playing with me since January but before that I played by myself.
AARON KEKER: So what was it like co-writing with Colbie on her platinum debut album Coco?
JASON REEVES: That whole experience was just like indescribable but for me it was not only writing with somebody with, you know, such an incredibly beautiful voice. But it was my first time living out here… in California so the whole thing for me was just some insane dream…everything…that I wanted to do forever was finally happening, it seemed I guess. So, I don’t know, it’s hard to describe. It was basically what I’ve been wanting to happen for a long time.
AARON KEKER: Well, that’s cool. I saw the video of Permanent with Colbie on your web site and MySpace page. Is that a new song that you are working on releasing soon?
JASON REEVES: I’m not sure when we are going to release that. I hope that we can cut a CD together of all the songs that we’ve written together.
AARON KEKER: Well. What other musicians would you enjoy working with?
JASON REEVES: Wow! There’s going to be a million. John Mayer, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, I know those are absurd. You know, legendary people but those are the first ones that come to mind.
AARON KEKER: Right. Well what bands or musicians inspire Jason Reeves?
JASON REEVES: Every band that’s ever existed really. But when I was starting it was Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Those were the main four really and then Radiohead I guess too. But I was really into the 60’s and that whole movement.
AARON KEKER: Right. If you could tour with any band or musician who would it be? And why?
JASON REEVES: Wow! It would be with Colbie so that we can sing together. We did a tour in April and it was just amazing because, you know, we started doing this together 3½ years ago and we haven’t been able to tour together because, you know, we’ve been promoting our own records. And it’s just fun to be out with her.
AARON KEKER: Right. Well, that’s cool. Your music has been featured on the television shows One Tree Hill and A Shot at Love with Tia Tequila. Are there any other television shows that your music has been featured on?
JASON REEVES: Yeah. The funny thing about that is that I don’t know the answer to that. I mean I know it’s been on other shows. It’s been onArmy Wives and a couple other MTV shows but I’m so out of tune with that I don’t know the exact details. I’m sorry.
AARON KEKER: No, that’s all right. So what was your reaction when you were named one of the Top Indie Singer-Songwriters of 2007 by iTunes?
JASON REEVES: That was, you know, unexpectedly overwhelming, I guess. The people that were next to me on that list were people like James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and a bunch of other really good songwriters. So, I know, I felt out of place and wanted to be put on that list, it was pretty crazy.
AARON KEKER: Right. Of the four albums that you have released, which one or one’s are your favorite?
JASON REEVES: I would say the newest stuff. I like it the best. I feel like the more I record and the more I write, the more I learn about it and the more I’ll understand. So I’m even more excited about recording the next album. A lot of time the recording gets rushed along and things get put together quickly and at the end you wished you had more time. So I am going to spend more time on the next album and probably the one I’ll be most excited about [Laughs] once it comes out.
AARON KEKER: Right. Well, how did you come up with the title of your new album?
JASON REEVES: …When I come up with titles for records, I just write every single insane idea that I can down and just flip through the list. It took me a long time, you know, to go through that list and pick my favorite. And once I made it… I don’t know how to explain why one told the story more than any of the other titles that I’d come up with. It kind of explains that is was a fairy tale… more than an album full of songs. So I chose that one.
AARON KEKER: Well, that’s cool. Well, do you plan on releasing any videos on iTunes?
JASON REEVES: We’re going to shoot a video sometime soon. Probably right after Christmas for one of my songs then it will be up but until then we’re still claiming that we’re getting everything in place for it.
AARON KEKER: So which one?
JASON REEVES: I think “Someone Somewhere.”
AARON KEKER: Oh, okay. All right. Well, final question. Now that you are signed on with Warner Bros. Records, what is next for Jason Reeves?
JASON REEVES: Next for me is a lot of touring. Shooting my first video ––
AARON KEKER: Right.
JASON REEVES: like you just brought up. Other then that hopefully just eventually making more records and writing as soon as I can. You know, that’s really all I can hope for at this moment.
AARON KEKER: Right. Do you have like song titles for like your next album?
JASON REEVES: I have so many songs lined-up already for that I don’t even know where to start.
AARON KEKER: Right. Do you find it like difficult to try and chose, which songs are going to be, you know, on the album?
JASON REEVES: Usually. For the album that I have out now they kind of chose themselves and kind of arranged themselves in an order so it was easier. But at the same time I still had to cut off a bunch that I didn’t want to. And I’m sure it is going to be even worse next time because I already have such a large, you know, maybe a couple albums worth of songs waiting. I don’t like that part at all but it will probably happen again.
AARON KEKER: Right. Are you going to release any deluxe editions or anything?
JASON REEVES: … I hope. I want to start moving on that… I’ve been on the road for so long and we’ve been getting everything into place, you know, recently with Warner and everything. So hopefully we can talk about getting some more stuff out soon because I know it has been a while. Especially, a long time for me ––
AARON KEKER: Right.
JASON REEVES: because I don’t know, because I’m writing all of the new ones and I have to deal with the fact that nobody can hear them.
AARON KEKER: Right. All right Jason. Well thanks for your time and, you know, hopefully I’ll see you in Chicago soon.
JASON REEVES: Awesome dude! I hope I’ll be back!
AARON KEKER: All right dude! Thanks a lot man! All right! Bye!
JASON REEVES: Thank you! Bye! Bye!
